Simulated tennis game

ABSTRACT

A simulated tennis game useful as a toy can be constructed utilizing an elongated, self-supporting arm mounted upon a support structure through the use of a gimbal joint permitting the arm to have angular movement in two different directions. A ball is located at one end of the arm and a counter-weight is secured to the other end of the arm. This structure permits the ball to be hit back and forth in much the manner in which a game such as tennis is played. Preferably the ball is hit through the use of actuator means which are constructed so as to be capable of being moved to various positions. Such actuator means are adapted to be manually operated so as to cause pivotal movement of individual paddles on them. The principles of the toy may be employed in other games than a simulated tennis game.

United States Patent 1191 Matsumoto 1 51 Sept. 9, 1975 1 SIMULATEDTENNIS GAME [75] Inventor: Takoa Matsumoto, Tokyo. Japan [73] Assignee:Tomy Kogyo Co., lnc., Tokyo,

Japan [22] Filed: June 24, 1974 [21] Appl. No: 482.439

152] U.S. Cl 273/85 R; 124/1; 124/4 [51] Int. Cl. A63F 7/06 [58] Fieldof Search 273/26 E, 29 A, 58 C, 85,

273/94 A, 94 B, 94 C. 94 D 94 E, 94 F, 95 A 200 R. 200 B, 129; 124/1. 4

France 273/85 R United Kingdom 273/85 A Primary ExaminerRichard .l.Apley Assistant EmminerHarry G. Strappello Attorney, Agent or FirmEdwardD. OBrian [5 7] ABSTRACT A simulated tennis game useful as a toy can beconstructed utilizing an elongated, self-supporting arm mounted upon asupport structure through the use of a gimbal joint permitting the armto have angular movement in two different directions. A ball is locatedat one end of the arm and a counter-weight is secured to the other endof the arm. This structure permits the ball to be hit back and forth inmuch the manner in which a game such as tennis is played. Preferably theball is hit through the use of actuator means which are constructed soas to be Capable of being moved to various positions. Such actuatormeans are adapted to be manually operated so as to cause pivotalmovement of individual paddles on them. The principles of the toy may beemployed in other games than a simulated tennis game.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED SE? 91975 sum 2 n; 2

Era. 4.

SIMULATED TENNIS GAME BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention setforth in this specification relates to games in which a ball is hit backand forth. More specifically the invention is primarily directed towardsgames of this type which are adapted to be utilized as toys by children.

It is a matter of common knowledge that there are many different gamesin which a ball is hit back and forth across an appropriate playingsurface. Certain of such games may be referred to as adult games sincethey are primarily played by adults for exercise and/r relaxation.Frequently it is desired to simulate such adult games in toy games whichcan be played indoors. The simulation of adult games such as tennis orthe like in games which can be played indoors has presented a problem tothe toy industry. This problem primarily relates to the control of theball used in such a game.

For an indoor toy to be acceptable for play purposes any ball used withsuch a toy should be connected or tied to at least part of the gamestructure so that the ball will not become lost and/or will not causedamage as the game is played in an indoor area. A number of differentstructures have been proposed and to varying extents used to control themovement of a ball in a toy game. Such balls have been connected to gamestructures by both elastic and non-elastic cords or tethers. Frequentlysuch cords have been supported by an elevated support. It is even beenproposed to mount the ball in such game on a spring wire which controlsthe movement of the ball.

All of these expedients are considered to be somewhat disadvantageousand/or undesirable for any of a plurality of different reasons. Cordssuch as are indicated in the preceding are apt to become tangled and-/or broken. Frequently, they interfere with the regularity of ballmotion after a ball is hit. A spring structure as indicated in thepreceding discussion is considered undesirable inasmuch as the springwill significantly control or govern the movement of a ball.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A broad object of the present inventionis to provide new and improved games of the type in which balls are hitback and forth which overcome various undesirable aspects of priorrelated games as are briefly indicated in the preceding discussion. Theinvention is also intended to provide toy games which are comparativelysimple and inexpensive to construct, which are easily and convenientlyutilized, which possess a comparatively high degree of play value, andwhich are capable of being used for a prolonged period withoutmaintenance or damage.

In accordance with this invention these objectives are achieved byproviding in a game in which a ball is hit back and forth theimprovement which comprises: an elongated self-supporting arm carrying aball or a simulated ball at one of its ends and a counter-weight at theother of its ends. which is supported on a support structure by a gimbaljoint means which holds the arm inter mediate of its ends in such amanner that the arm is permitted to have angular movement in twodifferent directions. In a game of this invention. preferably thesupport structure forms a part of a simulated playing area. such as, forexample. a simulated tennis court. Preferably the ball in a game asdescribed is hit back and forth through the use of one or more hand heldand hand operated actuator means which include simulated paddles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Additional details relative to thisinvention will be apparent from a careful consideration of the remainderof this specification, the appended claims, and the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. I is a top plan view of a presently preferred embodiment or formofa game in accordance with this invention, this specific game being asimulated tennis game;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial side-elevational view taken at line 22 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken at line 3-3 of FIG. 2;and

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken at line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

The basic concepts of the present invention are summarized in theappended claims. These concepts need not be employed in a toy gameconstructed exactly as illustrated in the drawing. They can be easilyembodied in a wide variety of somewhat difi'erently appearing andsomewhat differently constructed games through the use or exercise ofroutine engineering skill.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the drawings, there is shown a simulated tennisgame 10 of the present invention which includes a flat support structure12 which is adapted to be utilized on a table top or the like. Thissupport structure 12 includes a top playing surface 14 which ispreferably divided off by printing, painting or the like to simulate aconventional full size tennis court. Side uprights 16 are located on thesurface 14 so as to extend upwardly from it. These uprights 16approximately correspond to the posts used in the conventional game oftennis to hold the net inasmuch as they serve to support a simulatedtennis net I8 as shown.

These uprights 16 also serve to carry an elongated rigid rod 20 so thatthis rod 20 extends parallel to the surface I4 and the net 18 acomparatively short distance above this net 18. Preferably cylindricalspacers 22 are located around the rod 20 in such a manner as to extendtowards the center of this rod 20 from the uprights 16. It is noted thatthese spacers 22 are dimensioned so as to leave a small centrallylocated length 24 of the rod 20 uncovered. This length 24 of the rod 20fits through a hole 26 in a fitting 28 located intermediate the ends 30and 32 of an elongated self-supporting arm 34. The end 30 carries asimulated ball 36 while the end 32 is secured to a counter-weight 38.The fitting 28 is constructed so as to have necked down sides 40.

The entire fitting 28 is constructed so as to cooperate with the length24 of the rod 20 in such a manner as to create what may be referred toas a type of gimbal joint. As used herein, this term gimbal joint isintended to designate a structure such as is illustrated in which thereare two mutually perpendicular axis of rotation permitting angularmovement in two different directions. From this definition it will beapparent that the expression gimbal joint" as used herein is acomparatively broad expression encompassing any of a variety ofcontrivances or devices permitting a body to incline freely in severaldirections.

With the precise structure shown the arm 34 is not only pivotablymounted so that it can rock back and forth on the rod 20, but it is alsomounted in such a manner that it can rock at various different angles onthe rod 20. There is a minor degree of limitation to the latterresulting from the geometry of the sides 40 of the fitting 28 and thepossibility of contact with the spacers 22. For preferred results thegame should be constructed so that the arm 34 can rock back and forth insuch a manner that the ball 36 engages an area roughly corresponding tothe area of the simulated tennis court on the surface 14 plus a smallarea adjacent to the sim ulated tennis court.

As the game 10 is used, the ball 36 is hit so that it will rock back andforth in much the manner in which a conventional tennis ball is hit soas to traverse a net. Because of the nature of the somewhat constrainedmovement of the ball 36 it is preferred to hit the ball so that it goesback and forth as the game 10 is played through the use of an actuatoror actuator means 42. Normally as the game 10 is played, two of theseactuators 42 are used by two different persons playing the game.However, only one actuator 42 is illustrated in the drawing in theinterest of simplicity since the game 10 can be played by only oneperson utilizing one actuator 42.

The actuator 42 preferably includes a rounded, downwardly extending base44 which is adapted to be positioned against the surface 14 in anydesired location and at any desired angle as the actuator 42 isemployed. This base 44 carries a small housing 46 which in turn carriesan upwardly extending tubular handle 48 designed to be engaged by thefingers on a hand. When the actuator 44 is so engaged. it mayconveniently be moved on the surface 14 to various locations where itcan be used to hit the ball 36 as the ball 36 goes back and forth.

In order to hit the ball 36 a plunger 50 extending through the handle 48is normally pushed downwardly with a thumb, although it may be engagedin other manners as is pushed downwardlyv Such downward movementdepresses an end 52 of a lever 54 which is pivotally mounted on thehousing 46 so as to extend from this housing 46. The other end 56 of thelever 54 is thus caused to move upwardly. Although the ball 36 may behit by this end 56 through the actuation of the actuator 42 if theactuator 42 is of virtually any shape it is preferred to form the end 56so as to simulate a tennis racket. This provides an enlarged area foruse in hitting the ball 36. Upon release of the plunger 50 a smallspring 58 returns the lever 54 and the plunger 50 to their originalpositions.

I claim: 1. A simulated tennis game which comprises: a flat supportstructure having a top playing surface having means thereon simulating atennis court,

upstanding posts corresponding to the net posts used with a tennis courtlocated on said support structure so as to extend upwardly from saidplaying surface,

an elongated, rigid rod extending parallel to said surface and abovesaid surface. said rod being held by said posts,

a fitting having a hole extending thcrcthrough lo cated on said rod withsaid rod extending through said hole, said fitting and said hole beingshaped so that said fitting can rock back and forth on said rod atvarious different angles with respect to said rod in such a manner thatthere can be angular movement in two different directions,

a spacer means for preventing said fitting from moving along the lengthof said rod located on said rod on each side of said fitting,

an elongated self-supporting arm extending from said fitting,

a simulated ball secured to the extremity of said arm remote from saidfitting,

a counterweight operatively connected to said arm remote from said ball,

two actuating means for hitting said ball so as to cause said ball tomove back and forth,

each of said actuator means being capable of being manipulated so as tobe positioned anywhere along said top surface on either side of saidrod.

2. A simulated tennis game as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said spacer means are cylindrical sleeves fitting around said rod andextending from said posts, said sleeves having adjacent ends which arespaced from one another.

3. A simulated tennis game as claimed in claim I wherein:

each of said actuator means comprises a base adapted to rest againstsaid top surface at any of a plurality of angles to said playing surfaceand at any position upon said playing surface,

a handle extending vertically upward from said base,

an actuating member movably mounted on said handle so as to be capableof linear movement generally toward said base,

a paddle member pivotally mounted on said base intermediate its ends,one end of said paddle member being engaged by said actuating member sothat as said actuating member is moved toward said base the other end ofsaid paddle member is pivotted upward,

said spring means located within said base for biasing said paddlemember and said actuating member generally away from said base,

4. A simulated tennis game as claimed in claim in claim 1 wherein:

said spacer means are cylindrical sleeves fitting around said rod andextending from said posts, said sleeves having adjacent ends which arespaced from one another,

each of said actuator means comprises a base adapted to rest againstsaid top surface at any of a plurality of angles to said playing surfaceand at any position upon said playing surface,

a handle extending vertically upward from said base,

an actuating member movably mounted on said handle so as to be capableof linear movement gener ally toward said base,

a paddle member pivotally mounted on said base intermediate its ends,one end of said paddle member being engaged by said actuating member sothat said actuating member is moved toward said base the other end ofsaid paddle member is pivotted upward,

said spring means located Within said base for biasing said paddlemember and said actuating member 'nihe Martini-l!!! v

1. A simulated tennis game which comprises: a flat support structurehaving a top playing surface having means thereon simulating a tenniscourt, upstanding posts corresponding to the net posts used with atennis court located on said support structure so as to extend upwardlyfrom said playing surface, an elongated, rigid rod extending parallel tosaid surface and above said surface, said rod being held by said posts,a fitting having a hole extending therethrough located on said rod withsaid rod extending through said hole, said fitting and said hole beingshaped so that said fitting can rock back and forth on said rod atvarious different angles with respect to said rod in such a manner thatthere can be angular movement in two different directions, a spacermeans for preventing said fitting from moving along the length of saidrod located on said rod on each side of said fitting, an elongatedself-supporting arm extending from said fitting, a simulated ballsecured to the extremity of said arm remote from said fitting, acounterweight operatively connected to said arm remote from said ball,two actuating means for hitting said ball so as to cause said ball tomove back and forth, each of said actuator means being capable of beingmanipulated so as to be positioned anywhere along said top surface oneither side of said rod.
 2. A simulated tennis game as claimed in claim1 wherein: said spacer means are cylindrical sleeves fitting around saidrod and extending from said posts, said sleeves having adjacent endswhich are spaced from one another.
 3. A simulated tennis game as claimedin claim 1 wherein: each of said actuator means comprises a base adaptedto rest against said top surface at any of a plurality of angles to saidplaying surface and at any position upon said playing surface, a handleextending vertically upward from said base, an actuating member movablymounted on said handle so as to be capable of linear movement generallytoward said base, a paddle member pivotally mounted on said baseintermediate its ends, one end of said paddle member being engaged bysaid actuating member so that as said actuating member is moved towardsaid base the other end of said paddle member is pivotted upward, saidspring means located within said base for biasing said paddle member andsaid actuating member generally away from said base,
 4. A simulatedtennis game as claimed in claim in claim 1 wherein: said spacer meansare cylindrical sleeves fitting around said rod and extending from saidposts, said sleeves having adjacent ends which are spaced from oneanother, each of said actuator means comprises a base adapted to restagainst said top surface at any of a plurality of angles to said playingsurface and at any position upon said playing surface, a handleextending vertically upward from said base, an actuating member movablymounted on said handle so as to be capable of linear movement generallytoward said base, a paddle member pivotally mounted on said baseintermediate its ends, one end of said paddle member being engaged bysaid actuating member so that as said actuating member is moved towardsaid base the other end of said paddle member is pivotted upward, saidspring means located within said base for biasing said paddle member andsaid actuating member generally away from said base.